Ong Bak - Loved it as you might suspect. I feal really sorry for the stunt team, Tony Jaa kicks the fuck out of them. Luckily this makes the Muai Tai look amazing, I'm really looking forward to Tony's next film, which by the trailer looks great too. **** The Happiness of the Katakuris - Again really enjoyable. Miike is clearly a master director. I don't always enjoy his harsher films but they ALWAYS seem to clearly show his skill off 100%. ****

Very entertaining, also beautiful and stylish. It's worlds away from the likes of `Blade 2` and `Hellboy`, and just goes to show the old addage that when a foreign director switches to making hollywood movies, they will never make a personal best again.

Heat After Dark - Ryuhei Kitamura's first film which went straight to video in Japan with its 45min running time. Really enjoyed this the cinematography particualry took me by supprise, very well shot. A good first effort that remined me alot of Tarantino. At such a short running time it did'nt feel stretched out which is nice because it doesn't have the most complex plot of all time. ***1/2

Down To Hell - Kitamura's second film and the prequal to Versus. Unlike the above film the cinematography is not nearly in its league but it has the same kind of energy in its edit that makes Versus so appealing. Its not really a prequal, more of a film set in the same woods as Versus. Alot of people consider Versus to be the Japanese Bad Taste but I think Down To Hell deserves this title much more; with its uber gore and fun narative. A very enjoyable short film (its also 45 mins), it looks abit studenty because it was shot on such a low budget. But it really is a fun film to watch when you get past that. If your a fan of Kitamura you'l love it. ****

Have to agree with on My Sassy Girl.... Certainly one of the finest romantic comedy to be made in the last decade... Like you I didnt expect much, which made the result even more refreshing and memorable. If you havent already I recommend you see 'Windstruck', which is the prequel to My Sassy Girl. Although most people loathed it, I found it as hilarious as its original... Admittedly it didnt have quite the same impact, but nevertheless, I strongly advice you to get it......

I recently watched the dvd of 'L'Auberge Espagnole' before going to see its sequel 'Les Poupées Russes' at the cinema...and subsequently bumped into the lead actor Romain Duris when wandering around one sunday afternoon near a friend's house.

They are really enjoyable films, a bit like a sort of French Love Actually, with lots of different stories (though there is one overall main character) and they go absolutely crazy for them here! If you fancy a bit of European lighthearted rom com/coming of age film, I definately recommend them!

Bad Education- one of the most peculiar films I have ever watched and something I was totally unprepared for, even having seen some of Almodovars back catalogue. But it certainly made and impression and I'm glad I made the effort to sit through it. All the usual Almodovar style is present and there are some excellent perormances from all the cast. The storyline will put some people off and many of my friends were unable to watch it through, they didn't even get to the disturbing moon river scene. But if you want to watch something new and different and something which will make you think about things from a different point of view (who doesn't) then I would recommend it.

I've also recently seen Chungking Express and The Idiots, Chungking Express is a nice little film (or should I say two films) which is a lot easier to digest than some of Wong Kar-Wai's other films and comes with a strong recommendation. The Idiots I wasn't so sure about, I respect what Von Trier was trying to do but after reading the Dogme 95' Manifesto I thought he just came across as an arrogant berk and after watching the film I wondered what the point of all these rules if the films they produce are unentertaining and unaestetically pleasing cinema which provokes no rection other than total and utter tedium. Maybe I should watch Breaking The Waves and Dancer In The Dark before being to judgemental.

Recently watched Switchblade Romance which was a good bit of gory fun. I,ve also just finshed watching Lars Von Triers The Kingdom 1 and 2. It was absolutely brilliant. As good as Twin Peaks. I would also like to see The Vanishing, the original version, has anyone seen it?

The Isle - Fucking hell! Freaky stuff. Gorgeous film though and amazing the emotion that can be conveyed with almost no words. Some really beautifully framed shots which just makes the shocking stiff all the more disturbing.

The Devils Backbone - Not bad, but not great either. Some inventice scenes and nice moments of real tension, but as I'd worked out what was going on not long into the movie, it lost the impact it might have had.